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Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure appeared 42 times across 3 years — 4.9% of Chemistry. This question is from Lewis Structures and Lone Pairs.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 12 14 16 42

Identify the molecule(X) with maximum number of lone pairs of electrons (obtained using Lewis dot structure) among HNO₃, H₂SO₄, NF₃ and O₃. Choose the correct bond angle made by the central atom of the molecule (X).

Solution & Explanation

Core Logic

Draw Lewis structures for all given molecules and sum the total lone pairs on all atoms. HNO₃: 7 lone pairs total. H₂SO₄: 8 lone pairs total. O₃: 6 lone pairs total. NF₃: Nitrogen has 1 lone pair, and each of the three fluorine atoms has 3 lone pairs. Total = 1 + (3 × 3) = 10 lone pairs.

Step 1: Identifying Molecule X

Molecule X is NF₃ due to possessing the maximum number of lone pairs (10).

Lewis Structures and Lone Pairs diagram for Q65 - JEE Main 2026 Morning
Lewis Structures and Lone Pairs diagram for Q65 - JEE Main 2026 Morning

Step 2: Bond Angle Analysis

In NF₃, Nitrogen is sp³ hybridized. Due to the high electronegativity of Fluorine, the bond pair electron density shifts towards fluorine. This reduces bond pair-bond pair repulsion around the central nitrogen compared to ammonia (NH₃). As a result, the lone pair compresses the F-N-F bond angle more severely than in NH₃ (107^°). The resulting F-N-F bond angle is approximately 102^°.

Pattern Recognition

Electronegativity rules: If the surrounding atoms are more electronegative than the central atom, bond angles decrease because bonding electrons are pulled away from the central atom, allowing the lone pair to expand further and crush the angle.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure Class 12 Chemistry: The p-Block Elements

Lewis Structures and Lone Pairs diagram for Q65 - JEE Main 2026 Morning
Lewis Structures and Lone Pairs diagram for Q65 - JEE Main 2026 Morning

Reference Study Guides

More Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure Previous-Year Questions — Page 8

Q jee_main_2024_30_january_evening Dipole Moment
Given below are two statements: Statement-I: Since fluorine is more electronegative than nitrogen, the net dipole moment of NF₃ is greater than NH₃. Statement-II: In NH₃, the orbital dipole due to lone pair and the dipole moment of NH bonds are in opposite direction, but in NF₃ the orbital dipole due to lone pair and dipole moments of N-F bonds are in same direction. In the light of the above statements. Choose the most appropriate from the options given below.
  • A. Statement I is true but Statement II is false.
  • B. Both Statement I and Statement II are false.
  • C. Both statement I and Statement II is are true.
  • D. Statement I is false but Statement II is are true.

Solution

Core Logic

Statement I: The net dipole moment of NH₃ (1.47 D) is actually greater than that of NF₃ (0.23 D). Therefore, Statement I is false.

Statement II: In NH₃, the N-H bond dipole moments (pointing towards the more electronegative N) reinforce the orbital dipole moment of the lone pair. In NF₃, the N-F bond dipole moments point away from N (towards the more electronegative F), opposing the orbital dipole moment of the lone pair. This partial cancellation in NF₃ makes its net dipole moment lower. Therefore, Statement II is also false, as it reverses the correct orientations.

Dipole moments in NH3 and NF3 diagram for Q75 - JEE Main 2024 Evening
Dipole moments in NH3 and NF3 diagram for Q75 - JEE Main 2024 Evening
Dipole moments in NH3 and NF3 diagram for Q75 - JEE Main 2024 Evening
Dipole moments in NH3 and NF3 diagram for Q75 - JEE Main 2024 Evening

Step 1: Final Conclusion

Since both statements assert the opposite of established facts regarding NH₃ and NF₃, both are false.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Q jee_main_2024_30_jan_morning VSEPR Theory
Match List-I with List-II.
List-I (Molecule)List-II (Shape)
(A) BrF₅(I) T-shape
(B) H₂O(II) See saw
(C) ClF₃(III) Bent
(D) SF₄(IV) Square pyramidal
  • A. (A)-(I), (B)-(II), (C)-(IV), (D)-(III)
  • B. (A)-(II), (B)-(I), (C)-(III), (D)-(IV)
  • C. (A)-(III), (B)-(IV), (C)-(I), (D)-(II)
  • D. (A)-(IV), (B)-(III), (C)-(I), (D)-(II)

Solution

Core Logic

Using VSEPR theory: (A) BrF₅: Br has 7 valence electrons. 5 form bonds with F, leaving 1 lone pair. (5 bp + 1 lp) arrow sp³d² hybridization arrow Square pyramidal shape. (B) H₂O: O has 6 valence electrons. 2 form bonds with H, leaving 2 lone pairs. (2 bp + 2 lp) arrow sp³ hybridization arrow Bent shape. (C) ClF₃: Cl has 7 valence electrons. 3 form bonds with F, leaving 2 lone pairs. (3 bp + 2 lp) arrow sp³d hybridization arrow T-shape. (D) SF₄: S has 6 valence electrons. 4 form bonds with F, leaving 1 lone pair. (4 bp + 1 lp) arrow sp³d hybridization arrow See-saw shape.

Step 1: Matching

(A) - (IV) (B) - (III) (C) - (I) (D) - (II)

VSEPR Theory solution diagram for Q71 - JEE Main 2024 Morning
VSEPR Theory solution diagram for Q71 - JEE Main 2024 Morning
VSEPR Theory solution diagram for Q71 - JEE Main 2024 Morning
VSEPR Theory solution diagram for Q71 - JEE Main 2024 Morning
VSEPR Theory solution diagram for Q71 - JEE Main 2024 Morning
VSEPR Theory solution diagram for Q71 - JEE Main 2024 Morning
VSEPR Theory solution diagram for Q71 - JEE Main 2024 Morning
VSEPR Theory solution diagram for Q71 - JEE Main 2024 Morning

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Q85 jee_main_2024_30_jan_morning Molecular Orbital Theory
The total number of molecular orbitals formed from 2s and 2p atomic orbitals of a diatomic molecule
Numerical Answer. Answer: 8 to 8

Solution

Core Logic

According to Molecular Orbital Theory (MOT), the number of molecular orbitals (MOs) formed is equal to the total number of atomic orbitals (AOs) combined.

Step 1: Counting atomic orbitals

For a single atom in the 2nd period, the valence shell has: One 2s orbital Three 2p orbitals (2pₓ, 2py, 2pz) Total = 4 atomic orbitals per atom. For a diatomic molecule, two such atoms combine. Total atomic orbitals = 4 × 2 = 8.

Step 2: Forming molecular orbitals

Combining these 8 atomic orbitals yields 8 molecular orbitals:

  • From 2s: σ₂ₛ and σ^*₂ₛ (2 MOs)
  • From 2p: σ2pz, π2pₓ, π2py, π^2pₓ, π^2py, σ^*2pz (6 MOs)
  • Total MOs = 2 + 6 = 8.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Q jee_main_2024_31_jan_evening Ionic Bond and Lattice Energy
Which of the following is least ionic?
  • A. BaCl₂
  • B. AgCl
  • C. KCl
  • D. CoCl₂

Solution

Core Logic

According to Fajan's rules, covalent character is favored by high charge and small size of the cation, and by cations with a pseudo-noble gas configuration. Ag^+ has a pseudo-noble gas configuration (ns²np⁶nd¹⁰), which results in high polarizing power compared to s-block and typical transition elements. Therefore, AgCl has the maximum covalent character and is the least ionic among the given options.

Ionic character order: AgCl < CoCl₂ < BaCl₂ < KCl

Step 1: Final Selection

Because AgCl is the most covalent, it is the least ionic. Hence, option (2) is correct.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Q81 jee_main_2024_31_jan_evening Dipole Moment and Fractional Charge
A diatomic molecule has a dipole moment of 1.2 D. If the bond distance is 1AA, then fractional charge on each atom is _________ × 10⁻¹⁰ esu. (Given: 1 D = 10⁻¹⁸ esu cm)
Numerical Answer. Answer: 1.2 to 1.2

Solution

Related Formula
μ = q × d
Core Logic

Given dipole moment, μ = 1.2 D = 1.2 × 10⁻¹⁸ esu cm. Bond distance, d = 1AA = 10⁻⁸ cm.

We need to find the fractional charge q.

Step 1: Calculation
q = (μ)/(d) q = 1.2 × 10⁻¹⁸ esu cm10⁻⁸ cm q = 1.2 × 10⁻¹⁰ esu
Step 2: Final Formatting

The question asks for the fractional charge in the form x × 10⁻¹⁰ esu. Therefore, the value is 1.2.

Note: Based on NTA officially accepting 12 (if asked for x × 10⁻¹¹) or 1.2. We will format it exactly as calculated.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

More Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure Questions — jee_main_2026_23_january_morning

Practice all Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure previous-year questions →

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